Rotary screen diverter and solid waste handling system using same

ABSTRACT

A solid waste handling system for screening and grinding solids entrained in an influent liquid stream flowing within a chute between laterally spaced vertical sidewalls utilizes at least one solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit fixedly mounted within the chute and at an angle to the influent liquid stream with an endless loop open mesh screen mounted for rotation on a frame assembly such that one upstream face of the screen is vertical and moves horizontally across the stream in a direction towards the downstream offset grinder unit. The grinder unit has a housing with an upstream facing inlet port and mounts internally within the housing stacked interengaging shredding members for rotation about their axes in the path of flow of the solids bearing influent. Motors mounted to the units above the influent liquid stream level drive the screen and shredding members of respective units. Multiple screen units and multiple grinder units may be employed with the multiple screen units in stacked array, in end overlapping position, and with the endless screens driven to deflect solids towards one or more grinder units offset below the most downstream screen unit of the array.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to solid waste handling systems of the typeemploying a solid waste grinder for shredding, crushing and grindingsolid waste material carried by a liquid influent, and more particularlyto a rotary screen diverter which collects and diverts solid wastewithin the influent stream into the inlet of the grinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A highly effective, solid waste grinder has been developed in recentyears for shredding, crushing and grinding solid waste material carriedby a liquid influent stream in which two interacting stacks of shreddingmembers are mounted on substantially parallel vertical shafts,positioned in transverse arrangement relative to the direction of wastematerial introduction into a grinder or comminutor apparatus. Theshredding members of one stack interact with the shredding members ofthe other stack, with the rotating shredding members of respectivestacks being separated by spacers, wherein the distances between theteeth of a cutting element with an opposing spacer differing as betweendifferent ones of pairs of interacting shredding members and whereinteeth provided on at least one member of each pair of shredding membersfor cutting in both directions of stack rotation. U.S. Pat. No.4,046,324, assigned to the common corporate assignee, is exemplary ofsuch solid waste shredding crushing and grinding apparatus.

While such shredding, crushing and grinding apparatus works veryeffectively and permits the fine solids ground during flow passage ofthe influent stream through the apparatus to be retained within theliquid, where large flows are required, there is a necessity to stack arelatively large number of such apparatuses side by side, so that theinfluent flow rate is not severely diminished by the presence of thesolid waste grinding apparatus. Additionally, since the grindingapparatus is required to see only the major portion of the solid wastecarried by the influent, there is a need in the industry to effectivelyconcentrate within the portion of the liquid influent passing throughthe grinding apparatus, the solid waste carried by the influent.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide animproved waste handling system using one or more solid waste grinderunits positioned in the path of an influent stream carrying the solidwaste, in which the solid waste is effectively concentrated and moveswith minimum effort into the inlet of the grinding apparatus, whereinthe grinder units involve stacked interacting shredding members, whereina solid waste diversion mechanism is employed, which is of simplifiedconstruction, which is readily adjustable to match varying widthinfluent streams and wherein, the solids diversion mechanism is of atype which concentrates the solids and diverts the influent upstream ofa grinder unit or units and which facilitates the introduction of theconcentrated solids into the inlet of such grinder unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A solid waste handling system for screening and grinding solidsentrained in an influent liquid stream flowing within a flow confiningchute having a bottom wall and laterally spaced vertical sidewallsdefining a flow channel for the stream is formed of at least one solidsdiverter horizontal rotating screen unit and a downstream offset grinderunit at an end thereof having an inlet port facing upstream to receivesolids entrained by an endless loop open mesh screen mounted forrotation on a frame assembly of the screen unit such that one upstreamface of the screen is vertical and moves horizontally across the streamin the direction towards the end of the screen unit proximate to thedownstream offset grinder unit. The solids diverter horizontal rotatingscreen unit is fixedly mounted within the chute having one end proximateto the one sidewall and extending towards the other sidewall at an angleto the flow direction of the stream while the grinder unit to the sideremote from the screen unit is fixed to the other sidewall of the chute.

An open frame support assembly fixedly mounted between the sidewalls ofthe chute fixedly mount the upper portions of the screen unit and thegrinder unit. Preferably, the grinder unit has a housing with anupstream facing inlet port and a downstream facing outlet port andmounts internally within the housing, stacked interengaging shreddingmembers mounted for rotation about their axes in the path of flow of thesolids bearing influent through the housing from the inlet port to theoutlet port. Motors mounted to the screen and grinder units rotate,respectively the endless loop screen and the interengaging shreddingmembers thereof.

The solid waste handling system may have a single screen unit at rightangles or oblique to the influent stream and a single grinder unitoffset downstream thereof and at one end of the screen unit.Alternatively, multiple screen units may form a stacked array, in endoverlapping position, with one or more grinder units downstream of themost downstream screen unit of the array. The screen unit may have anopen frame assembly in the form of left and right vertically spacedupper and lower end housings supporting respective ends of verticallyoriented drive and driven shafts mounted for rotation about their axes.A plurality of sprockets may be fixedly mounted to the shafts at axiallyspaced positions along the shafts for rotation about their axes with thesprockets including radially projecting teeth. The endless loop openmesh screen may comprise linked screen sections with each screen sectionbeing formed of a plurality of horizontal, vertically spaced linkshaving enlarged headed ends, horizontally spaced riser strips integralwith the links to define with the links rectangular screen meshopenings. The headed ends of horizontal links of adjacent screensections are interposed with each other with holes thereof aligned androds projecting through the aligned holes to pivotably couple the linkstogether at the headed ends such that the pivotably coupled screensections wrap about the sprockets mounted to the drive and drivenshafts. A stacked assembly of a speed reducer and a drive motor in thatorder may be mounted to the upper end housings of the screen unitmounting the drive shaft with a pair of shaft couplers interposed,respectively between the drive motor and the speed reducer forcompleting a speed reduction drive coupling between an output shaft ofthe motor and the screen unit drive shaft. The screen unit open frameassembly further includes an upper tensioner operatively coupled betweenthe upper end housings for the drive shaft and driven shaft,respectively and a lower tensioner operatively coupling the lower endhousings for rotatably mounting the drive shaft and driven shafts toeffect selective adjustment of the tension of the endless loop screenrotatably mounted on sprockets fixed to respective shafts. A secondarytensioner may be interposed between the upper and lower tensioners andthe driven shaft assembly including said upper and lower end housingsfor that shaft. The secondary tensioner includes secondary tensioneradjusting means in juxtaposition to the upper end housing rotatablymounting the driven shaft for permitting adjustment of the screentension after the screen unit is mounted within the chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved solid waste handling systemutilizing a solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit fordiverting solids within an influent stream into an open inlet of agrinding unit utilizing interengaging stacks of shredding memberspositioned to the side and downstream of the rotating screen diverterunit and forming one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the horizontal rotating solidsdiverter screen unit employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the horizontal rotating, solidsdiverter screen unit taken about line III--III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially broken away of the solidsdiverter horizontal rotating screen unit of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partially in section of the grinderunit forming a principal component of the solid waste handling systemillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a solid waste handling system forming asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a solid waste handling system forming yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a solid waste handling system forming yet afurther embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 inclusive, a solid waste handling system forminga one embodiment of the invention is illustrated generally at 10 andconsists of a integrated assembly 8 of a solids diverter horizontalrotating screen unit indicated generally at 12 and a grinder unitindicated generally at 14, mounted within and spanning laterally betweenopposed vertical sidewalls 16, 18 of a chute or spillway indicatedgenerally at 20. Chute 20 defines a flow channel 32 for a solidsinfluent stream indicated generally by arrow 22, upstream of theassembly 8, with a waste stream or effluent exiting from grinder unit14, as indicated generally by arrow 24, on the downstream side of thechannel defined by the chute or spillway 20.

Grinder unit 14 may be of the type of apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat.No. 4,046,324 and sold by the corporate assignee of this applicationunder the registered Trademark MUFFIN MONSTER. The makeup of the grinderunit 14 may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,324 and byreference to FIG. 5 which is a partial vertical sectional view of unit14 of FIG. 1.

The solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit 12 in the embodimentof FIGS. 1-5, includes an endless loop open mesh screen indicatedgenerally at 30 having an upstream length which moves, in thisembodiment, at right angles to the direction of the solids influentstream 22. The screen unit 12 is positioned such that one end is inproximity to the vertical sidewall 16 of the chute or spillway 20, whilethe opposite end stops short of the chute or spillway sidewall 18, so asto form a narrow flow channel section 32a between the end of screen 30and the adjacent sidewall 18. Screen 30 may be made up of a number oflinked screen sections 34 consisting of vertically spaced, horizontallinks 36 having headed ends 36a, integrally joined by a pair of verticalriser strips 38, so as to form a mesh having rectangular openings 40defined by the links 36 and the riser strips 38 as well as by the headedends 36a of stacked links. The headed ends of one screen section 34 areinterposed between headed ends 36a of adjacent screen sections atopposite ends. Vertical rods 42 project through aligned holes 44 of thelinks 36. As best seen in FIG. 3, the headed ends 36a for the individualhorizontal links 36 are of disc form to facilitate the positive rotationof the endless solids diverter screen 30. The endless screen 30 isphysically supported by a series of identically formed sprocketsindicated generally at 50 which are fixedly mounted to both a verticaldriven shaft 52 and a vertical drive shaft 54 at opposite left and rightends of the solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit 12. Theshafts 52, 54 have square cross sections matching square holes 55 withinthe center of sprockets 50 to insure positive drive between the rotatingshafts and the various sprockets 50 mounted thereon. There may be, forinstance, five sprockets 50 on each of the shafts 52. Idling or take upsprockets 50 on shaft 52 are identical to driving sprockets 50 on driveshaft 54. However, the idling or take up sprockets have teeth 56 whichface in the opposite direction to those of the drive sprockets 50 fixedto the drive shaft 54. The teeth 56 include a near radial edge 58 on oneside and a concave edge 60 on the opposite side; the concave edge 60acting to contact the circular disc form headed ends 36a of links 36. Ineach instance, however, the endless screen 30 drives the sprockets 50fixed to the driven shaft 52 while, the teeth 56 of the sprockets 50fixed to the drive shaft 54 function to drive the endless screen 30 bycontacting the headed ends 36a of respective lengths via teeth concaveedges 60 which face in the direction of rotation. In order to lock thevarious idling or take up sprockets and the various driving sprocketsaxially at defined positions to driven shaft 52 and drive shaft 54,respectively, these shafts have grooves 62 within their peripheries atlongitudinal spaced positions. Grooves 62 receive snap rings 64 tophysically locate the sprockets 50 at equally spaced positions along thelengths of the respective shafts 52, 54. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, thesprocket arrangement is commercially available under the registeredTrademark INTRALOX as are the screen sections 34 making up the endlessscreen 30.

Screen 30 may take other forms and sprockets 50 on driven shaft 52 maybe replaced by roller idlers.

As may be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 1-5 inclusive, the solidsdiverter horizontal rotating screen unit 12, is a unitary structuralassembly including an elongated frame indicated generally at 64,supporting the endless screen 30 for rotation in the direction of arrow66 and topped by a drive motor 68 at one end thereof. Motor 68 iscoupled to the drive shaft 54 at the end of the unit 12 proximate togrinder 14. The frame 64 includes left and right lower end housings 70,72, and left and right upper end housing 71, 73, respectively, linked atthe top and bottom by adjustable mechanical links indicated generally at74, 76 the purpose of which is to put proper tension on screen 30 andmaintain it during operation.

The solids S within the influent stream 22 tend to follow the laminarflow of diverted influent caused by transverse movement of the upstreamface 78 of the upstream length of screen 30, and while most of theinfluent 22 liquid passes therethrough, the solids S larger than thescreen openings are carried along the upstream face 78 of the screen,and are automatically swept from the curved end 30a of screen 30 at thenarrow channel section 32a leading to the grinder unit 14, FIG. 1. Theend housings 70, 71, 72, 73 are essentially metal blocks of rectangularform, which mount respective ends of the drive and driven shafts 54, 52.Those shaft ends may be of circular cross section and of reduceddiameter, for instance shaft ends 54a for drive shaft 54, FIG. 4, areappropriately mounted by anti-friction bearings 80, 82. Similaranti-friction bearings are provided as at 83 for the driven shaft 52,FIG. 1. The sectional view, FIG. 4, shows the lower end housing 72having a bore 84 and a first counterbore 86, within which is positionedan annular seal assembly 88. Further, an annular ring 90 is bolted toend housing 72 at a further counterbore 92 which receives ring 90.Screws 93 fix the annular ring 90 onto the recessed bottom of endhousing 72. Access thereto is covered by the bottom cover 96 via aseries of screws 98. The inner periphery of ring 90 underlies the outerrace of anti-friction bearing 80 to maintain the lower reduced diameterend 54a of the drive shaft 54 mounted for rotation about its verticalaxis within lower end housing 72. The right hand end housings 72, 73 arefixedly joined, FIG. 4, by a vertical frame member or bar 94. Toeffectively seal the lower end of the drive shaft 54, the drive shaftsection 54a is provided with a circumferential groove receiving anO-ring 99 which acts in conjunction with seals 100 for sealing cavity102 of end housing 72 interiorly of cover 96. Further, a gasket (FIG. 2)may be provided on the inside face of the cover 96 and between the coverand the lower end housing 72.

The structural arrangement is a near duplicate for the upper end of thedrive shaft 54, however, the drive shaft 54 at that end is extended by afirst reduced diameter portion 54a, and by a second further reduceddiameter portion 54b which projects through the center of upper cover106 which overlies the upper end housing 73, at that end of the screenunit 12. As seen in FIG. 4, a flanged cylindrical housing 108 is fixedlymounted to cover 106. Housing 108 carries interiorly a shaft coupling114 connecting the reduced diameter portion 54a of the drive shaft 54,and a further axially aligned output shaft 110 of a speed reducerindicated generally at 112 which is fixed to the upper end of housing108. Coupling 114 may be a model LO90 commercial coupling, sold underthe trademark LOVE JOY. A second LOVE JOY model LO90 coupling 116couples the speed reducer input shaft 118 to a motor shaft 120 whichprojects downwardly from drive motor 68. Motor 68 is, in turn, fixedlymounted coaxially above the speed reducer 112, via a further flanged,open housing 124. The speed reducer 112 effectively reduces the RPM ofthe motor shaft 120 to an acceptable speed for rotating drive shaft 54and moving the screen 30 slowly, so that the solids S of a size largerthan the mesh openings or holes 40 within the endless screen 30, aremaintained within the laminar flow of influent along the upstreamvertical face 78 thereof. The solids traverse the screen unit 12 to thepoint where, an accelerated portion of an solids influent stream 22diverted by screen 30 flows into the narrow channel portion 32a betweenthe right hand end of the screen unit 12 and sidewall 18 of the chute20. In accelerating past the screen, the influent stream carries thesolids S in particle form and projects them into the inlet port ofgrinder unit 24. Insofar as driven shaft 52 is concerned, the sprockets50 thereon function as idler sprockets and it is the rotation of theendless screen 30 which drives the driven shaft 52 in a counterclockwisedirection, FIG. 1.

Driven shaft sprocket assembly 51, comprising driven shaft 52 and aseries of sprockets 50 about which endless screen 30 wraps, isphysically coupled to drive shaft sprocket assembly 53, similarly formedby drive shaft 54 and sprockets 50, by the upper and lower mechanicallinks 74, 76, respectively, including upper and lower primary tensioners130 and 132. In that respect, the vertical frame member or bar 94, FIG.2, is fixed at its upper and lower ends to the drive end housings 72, 73by flanges 134, 136 from which project threaded shafts 138, 140,respectively. The upper primary tensioner 130 comprises an internallythreaded, hollow sleeve 144 which threadably receives the end of thethreaded rod 138. Threaded rod 138 bears a locknut 146. By rotatingsleeve 144 which rotatably mounts extension rod 148, coaxial therewith,the sleeve 144 is caused to shift axially in the direction of the doubleheaded arrow 150 in a direction determined by whether sleeve 144 isrotated clockwise or counterclockwise about its axis. A pair of rightangle brackets 152, fixed to the upper, left end housing 71, are ofL-shaped configuration having their bases 152a flush with the side ofthe end housing 71. Further projecting outwardly from the base 152a arepaired circular bars or studs 154 which slidably pass through holes 156within a plate 158 which is welded to the end of extension rod 148.Further, a U-shaped channel bar 160 extends vertically parallel to thedriven shaft 52, and has upper and lower wedges 162, 164, fixedrespectively to opposite ends thereof. Wedge 162 is narrower than thebracket 152 within which the wedge 162 is positioned, with an obliqueface 162a of wedge 162 facing away from end housing 71. Further, a metalrod 166 of a length in excess of the length of channel bar 160 extendsthe length of the channel bar 160 and is positioned internally, with aslot or bore of the same and has ends passing through narrow slotswithin wedges 162, 164. Slidably mounted on the oblique face 162a ofwedge 162 is a sliding block indicated generally at 168 having acontacting oblique face 168a which matches an oblique face 162a of wedge162. Further, the sliding block 168 is of a corresponding width to thewedge 162 and is positioned between projecting rods 154. Block 168 alsohas a vertical face 168b which lies flush to plate 158. The upper end ofthe rod 166 is threaded and threadably carries, in order, an adjustingnut 170 and a locknut 172, with adjustment nut 170 abutting a flat,horizontal face 168c of sliding block 168.

At the lower end of the threaded rod 166 and in conjunction with leftend housing 70, a duplicate assembly is provided including wedge 164.The rod 166, at its lower end, need not be threaded and has a rightangle bar 174 welded at its center to the end of the rod, so that bar174 underlies a horizontal bottom face 176a of a sliding block indicatedgenerally at 176. Block 176 includes an oblique upper face 176b whichabuts a similarly angled oblique face 164a of wedge 164. The slidingblock 176 includes a vertical face 176c which abuts a plate 178 weldedto the end of an extension rod 180 of the lower primary tensioner 132.Further, the plate 178 is apertured at both sides at 182 to receive theprojecting ends of studs or bars 184 which project outwardly from base186 of a pair of respective L-shaped brackets 186 whose side plates 186bcontact respective sides of lower wedge 164 and sliding block 176 of thelower primary tensioner 132. The lower primary tensioner 132 includes asleeve 188 which rotates about its axis relative to connecting rod 180at one end and which is internally threaded at its opposite end to theend of the threaded rod 140 which projects from and is fixed at itsother end to lower drive end housing 73. Threaded rod 140 bears alocknut 190, so that the position of the sleeve 188 on threaded shaft140 can be fixed via locknut 190, once the lower primary tensioner 132is adjusted to initially fix the position of the driven shaft sprocketassembly 51 relative to the drive shaft sprocket assembly 53. The rod166 which is threaded at its upper end, as at 166a, is effective tomaintain coupling between the upper sliding block 168 and the lowersliding block 176 in contact with respective wedges 162, 164, and at thesame time maintaining an effective coupling via studs 154, 184 and theplates 158, 178 fixed to connecting rods 148, 180 of respective primarytensioners 130, 132, between drive shaft sprocket assembly 53 and drivenshaft sprocket assembly 51. After primary tension is set up in theendless screen 30 through the two primary tensioners 130, 132, thelocknut 172 is loosened and the adjustment nut 168 tightened down theeffect of which is to drive wedges 162, 164 to the left, FIG. 2, alongwith the balance of the driven shaft sprocket assembly 51 to finalizethe tension within endless screen 30. Preferably, the primary tensioners130, 132 are set before the screen unit 12 is lowered into the channel32 of the chute or spillway 20, while the single secondary tensioner151, comprising principally sliding blocks 168, 176 and rod 166, is usedfor further adjustment of the screen tension, after the solid wastetreatment system 10 and in particular, the horizontal rotating solidsdiverter screen unit 12 is installed within the channel 32. It is noted,that secondary tension of screen 30 and final adjustment thereof, may beeffected by ready access to the threaded upper end 166a of rod 166, withthis end of the rod projecting above the level of the influent stream 22entering the channel 32 within which the unit 12 is mounted. Thesecondary tensioner may be eliminated if desired and tension in thescreen 30 preset prior to mounting the screen unit 12.

In order to effect the mounting of screen unit 12 as well as the grinderunit 14 with the vertical screen 30 moving horizontally across and atright angles to the direction of flow of the solids influent 22, an openframe is required for mounting these two elements of the assembly 8.

Since the solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit 12 constitutesa unitary structure and separate subassembly from that of grinder unit14, it is useful to have an open frame assembly 190 physically embracethe upper end housings 71, 73 of screen unit 12 and a similar upper endhousing of grinder unit 14 and that the lateral distance betweensidewalls 16, 18 of the chute or spillway 20 be slightly in excess ofthe overall length of the unit 12. As shown in FIG. 1, frame assembly190 comprises laterally spaced metal mounting plates 192, 194 fixed tothe chute or spillway sidewalls 16, 18 by lag screws or the like at 196.Fixedly mounted and joined at opposite ends to plates 192, 194 are adownstream frame member 198 and an upstream frame member 200. Members198, 200 may be L-shaped angle bars or U-shaped channel bars. Thedistance between channel bars 198 and 200 is equal to the width ofscreen unit end housings 71, 73, so that the end housings 71, 73 snuglyfit between these two members.

It is preferred that the solid waste treatment assembly 8 include somemeans such as an oblique baffle plate or wall 202 be positionedvertically, at an oblique angle to the diverted influent stream andhaving an upstream vertical edge connected to the downstream edge ofrespective drive shaft end housings 72, 73 at the right end of screenunit 12 and its downstream edge coupled to an angle bar 210 to one sideof inlet port 221 of grinder unit 14, so as to baffle the flow ofinfluent 22 with the solids S towards the upstream inlet port 221 of thegrinder unit 14 as described hereinafter. A generally parallel baffleplate 203 may be placed vertically with its upstream edge contactingchute side wall 18 and its downstream edge contacting the upstream anglebar 210 proximate to sidewall 18 to control the flow of solids intoinlet port 221.

Appropriately, a flat vertical sheet metal wall or plate 204 extendsvertically upwardly from the bottom wall of the chute or spillway 20, isfixed at one end to the short length angle bar 206, and is fixed at itsopposite end to angle bar 208 which spans between plate 204 and plate194 being appropriately welded or otherwise mechanically fixed theretoby means of bolts, rivets, etc.

In all, four right angle L-shaped cross section angle bars 210 extendvertically downwardly from respective plates 204, 194 to the bottom wallof the chute, defining a rectangular open frame enclosure 211 forgrinder unit 14 of the waste treatment system. Further, this portion ofthe open frame assembly 190 does not hamper the flow of solids influent22 and indeed facilitates the acceleration of a portion of the influent22 flow stream as its sweeps through the narrow vertical channel portion32a between plate 194 and sidewall 18, and the end 30a of the endlessscreen 30 wrapped under tension about the sprockets 50 of the driveshaft 54 of screen unit 12.

Preferably, metal bars or supporting ways 79 are fixedly mounted atopposite ends to vertical frame members or bars 94, 160 at verticallyspaced positions and extend horizontally behind the upstream length ofscreen for supporting the front half of the screen loop as it is drivenby drive shaft 54.

The makeup and nature of operation of the grinder unit 14 may be seen byreference to FIG. 5 which is a vertical sectional view of the grindertaken about line V--V of FIG. 1 as well as from the content of U.S. Pat.No. 4,046,324, whose content is incorporated herein by reference.

The grinder unit 14 consists of a vertically stacked assemblycorresponding in general to that of the stacked drive shaft sprocketassembly 53, with the exception that a drive shaft 228 of unit 14, FIG.5, rotates a first set of shredding members fixed to the shaft 228,which shaft is in line with and coupled to a drive motor 268, while asecond drive shaft 230, parallel thereto is mounted for rotation aboutits vertical axis and is geared to the first drive shaft and whichfixedly mounts further interengaging shredding members.

Specifically, the grinder unit 14 comprises a lower end housing 220 ofcast or machined metal which is coupled via a pair of oppositelydisposed, laterally spaced side rails 222 via screws 224, at upper andlower ends thereof, to an upper end housing 226. The upstream anddownstream faces of unit 14 between the upper and lower end housings226, 220 are open and define, respectively an inlet port 221 and anoutlet port 223 to permit the influent 22 bearing the solids S to passthrough the grinder unit 14. In that respect, additionally, theinteriors of the hollow end housings are sealed from the shredding area,indicated generally at 236 between laterally spaced side rails 222, byupper and lower seal assemblies 238 and 240 for respective shafts 228,230. A bottom cover 242 underlies the lower end of the lower end housing222 and is coupled thereto by screws 244. Similarly, a top cover 246 isfixedly mounted to the upper end housing 226 via screws 248 and isprovided with a circular opening or hole 250 through which a reduceddiameter section 228a of drive shaft 228 passes.

Mounted to the top cover 246 is a cylindrical spool 260, within which ishoused a first shaft coupler 262 which couples the reduced diameterportion 228a of shaft 228 to an output shaft 264 of a speed reducer 266coaxial with the first shaft coupler 262. The speed reducer 266functions to reduce the speed of a drive motor 268 which tops theassembly and which is physically mounted to an open frame 270 interposedbetween motor 268 and speed reducer 266 and coaxial therewith. Couplingbetween the motor 268 and the speed reducer 266 is effected by a secondshaft coupler 272 which connects at its upper end to the motor shaft 274and at its lower end to input shaft 276 of the speed reducer.

Each of the shafts 228, 230 support, in alternately stacked fashion,radially enlarged cutting elements 280 and smaller diameter spacers 282,the cutting elements being of disc form and having radially projectingcutting teeth. The cutting elements 280 are of laminar form, generallyof equal thickness to those of the laminar form spacers 282. A laminarspacer of one shaft 228 is coplanar with a cutting element on the othershaft 230 with the cutting element of one stack and the spacer of theother stack together forming a pair of interactive shredding members.The solids S within the flow stream 22 passing in the direction of thearrows and carried by the liquid influent, are shredded to a fine degreeby the high speed rotating, stacked, interacting shredding members onrespective shafts 228, 230. The fine solid particles exit from thedownstream outlet port 223 of the grinder unit 14 as a waste streameffluent 24 characterized by very fine solids particle content.

In maintaining the assembly of stacked cutting elements 280 and spacers282 on respective shafts, the shafts are provided with circular discs284 which abut respective upper bearing assemblies 232, while washers286 at the lower end of respective shafts 228, 230 clamp against thelower bearing assemblies 234. Further, the respective shafts 228, 230have reduced diameter externally threaded lower ends 228b, 230b whichends carry locknuts 290 which by axial adjustment, cause a desiredcompressive force to be exerted on the stacked cutting elements 280 andspacers 282 of respective shafts.

In operation, upon energization of respective motors 68 of the screenunit, and 268 of the grinder unit, solids reaching the the upstream face78 of the rotating endless screen 30 of a size in excess of the mesh ofthat screen, are carried by diverted influent along on the screen 30 asit revolves clockwise, FIG. 1, with a significant portion of the liquidinfluent stream 22 passing through the perforated screen. However, sincethe grinder unit 14 is offset downstream in the direction of influent 22flow and since the end of the screen unit 12 is spaced a short distancefrom sidewall 18, the flow stream is accelerated as it passes by theright hand lateral edge of the unit 14 and enters narrow channel portion32a, automatically diverting the solids S away from the screen as thescreen 30 wraps about the sprockets 50 mounted to screen unit driveshaft 54. The diverted influent 22 with the heavy concentration ofsolids S passes via narrow channel portion 32a into the inlet port 221of the grinder unit 14 where the solids are rapidly and effectivelyground into fine particles during passage through the stacks ofshredders carried by respective shafts 228, 230. The grinder unit 14 awaste stream effluent indicated by arrow 24, FIG. 1 discharges throughthe outlet port 223 of unit 14.

It is apparent from the description to this extent, that the grinderunit 14 and the screen unit 12 make an effective structural assembly 8with the offsetting of the screen unit 12 and the grinder unit 14 beingsuch that there is an acceleration of the flow stream around the end ofthe screen to selfdivert the solids S away from screen end 30a into theinlet port of the grinder unit 14. Further, with the solids S, uponbeing ground up, placed back into the waste stream, this eliminates thenecessity of the prior practice of physically removing the solids forseparate processing, principally effected by vertical rakes which cleanoff the solids by raising them from the flow stream above the level ofthat stream and into a further transport system above the level of afixed vertical screen, normally comprised of vertically oriented bars inlaterally spaced, parallel position. Significant economies result fromthe structural combination of the horizontal rotating screen unit 12 andthe grinder unit 14 in the manner of the illustrated embodiment, FIG. 1,and the other embodiments described hereinafter.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show preferred alternate embodiments of the invention.In these alternate embodiments, like numerals are employed for likeelements.

In referring to FIG. 6, the chute or spillway 20 which consists oflaterally spaced walls 16, 18 is somewhat narrower than the spillway 20of the embodiment of FIG. 1. In order for proper acceleration of theinfluent stream 22 to the end of the screen unit 12, proximate tosidewall 18 but spaced from that sidewall so as to create a narrowchannel portion 32a, the screen unit 12 must be angulated and other thanperpendicular to the influent stream 22. In this case, the transverseframe support member or channel bar 198 is maintained at the sameposition extending between plates 192 and 194 fixed to respectivesidewalls 16, 18 and the method of fixedly mounting the grinder unit 14by way of angle bars 206, 208, and vertical plates 204, 194, etc. isidentical to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

A change is effected by means of an oblique angle bar 300 which isfixedly mounted with one end 300a overlying the top of the sidewall 16,while its opposite end 300b overlies the top of transverse channel bar198 and which may be welded, screwed, bolted or otherwise fixed atrespective ends to these members. The open frame assembly 190' of thisembodiment is completed by a metal bar or strip 302 which is fixed tothe opposite side of screen unit 14 at respective end housings 71, 73and which extends beyond these housings. Brackets 304, 306 may be weldedor otherwise fixed to plates 292, 294 and strip 302 may be suitablyfixed at its opposite ends to brackets 304, 306 by being integrated tothe brackets during manufacture, or welded, bolted, etc. at its endsthereto.

Further, it should be kept in mind that, while open frame assemblyindicated generally at 190' defined by frame members 198, 300 and 302 iseffected above the level of the solids influent stream 22 and definesbetween parallel bars 300, 302, a slot 308 within which the screen unit14 is positioned, similar open frame support members may be positionedwithin the bottom of the chute or spillway 20 to facilitate fixedpositioning of the lower end of the screen unit 14. Open frame supportmembers at the bottom of the chute or spillway 20 would correspond tothat illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 for reception and locking of a lowerend of the grinder unit 14 as a mirror image of those employed by frameassembly 190', in fixing the upper end of grinder unit 14. The same istrue for the other embodiments herein.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, with the angulation of the screen unit 14,the downstream, left corner of the screen unit 14 abuts the surface ofplate 192 (or the inside surface of sidewall 16 of the chute 20), sothat some influent 22 flow is diverted, which must pass through thehorizontal, rotating endless screen 30 of unit 14 with the solids Slarger than the mesh size of screen 30 carried by the diverted influentalong the surface of the screen. The solids S are swept by theaccelerating portion of influent stream 22, when it passes through thenarrow channel portion 32a leading to the inlet port of grinder unit 14.

In FIG. 7, the chute or spillway 20' divides into three, parallel outletpassages or channels 402, 404 and 406, with the solids influent stream22 expanded by diverging sidewalls 16', 18' of chute 20'. A pair ofseparators 408, 410 define further vertical sidewalls 412, 414, 416 and418 creating, with sidewalls 16' and 18', the respective outlet channels402, 404 and 406. The waste treatment system of this embodiment utilizestwo screen units 12, 12 which are fixed to the diverging chute walls16', 18' and which extend at right angles thereto having ends at 12awhich are separated from each other forming a narrow channel portion32a' therebetween through which portion, the solids S influent stream 22pass at accelerated velocity leading to the upstream inlet ports 221 ofa pair of side by side grinder units 14, 14 which occupy the lateralwidth of the central outlet channel 404. In this embodiment, L-shapedframe members such as channel bars or angle bars 206' and 208' have endsfixed to respective sidewalls 414, 416, and define a narrow slot withinwhich the two grinder units 14 are positioned side by side. In FIG. 7,the open frame support assemblies near the top of the chute 20' are notillustrated for mounting screen units 12, but are preferably employedfor fixing the position of screen units 12, 12 which span the full gapbetween the spacers 408, 410 and the respective sidewalls 16', 18' ofchute 20'. In this case, the effluent streams 420 passing through outletpassages 402, 406 are free of solids S, while finely ground solids S aredischarged from grinder units 14, 14 for passage through the centeroutlet channel 404 of the waste treatment system as part of effluentstream 422.

Depending upon the capacity of the grinder unit 14, and the lateralwidth of the channel through which the solids influent stream 22 passes,a number of stacked horizontal, rotary screen units may be employed intandem, successively offset downstream, with the solids S larger thanmesh size of the endless screens 30 of each screen unit 12 being sweptalong the upstream screen unit to the succeeding downstream screen unitand finally flow diverted by the accelerating influent stream through anarrow channel portion 32a between the most downstream screen unit 12and the adjacent chute sidewall, into the inlet port 221 of the furtheroffset, downstream grinder unit 14, as seen in the embodiment of FIG. 8.

In this embodiment, the chute 20" has its sidewalls 16, 18 separated bya distance which is in excess of the overall length of three screenunits 12 when positioned in end overlapping, downstream offset stackedposition with respect to the flow of the influent stream 22 and at rightangles to flow direction. The direction of rotation of the drive motors122 for the screen units 12, are such as to cause screens 30 to rotatein the same counterclockwise direction, FIG. 8. Thus, the solids S inparticle form, are swept by the diverted portion of influent stream 22away from the ends 30a of the rotating screens 30 to move towards theupstream face of the endless screen 30 of each succeeding unit fromright to left, FIG. 8, and with a final concentration of the solids Swithin that diverted portion of the influent stream 22, within channelportion 32a leading directly to the inlet port 221 of the single grinderunit 14. Grinder unit 14 has one end fixed to wall 16 and the other endunderlies the end of most downstream screen unit 12 of the assembly.Again, in FIG. 8, the representation is one which is schematic, and theopen frame support assembly for supporting the various screen units 12and grinder units 14 is purposely not shown, but consists of appropriateframe members formed by metal channel bars or the like, and isconstructed so that various shaped channel bars are preferably fixed atrespective ends to the opposing sidewalls of chute 20' . The directionof screen rotation is indicated by arrows 500.

From the above description it may be seen that a very effective wastehandling system is developed on the basis of an assembly of at least onescreen unit and at least one grinder unit with the horizontal rotatingscreen continuously diverting solids from the waste stream directly intothe grinder unit with both units being easily installed having motorsabove the influent stream and dropped into position within a chutecarrying the influent stream carrying the solids by dropping the unitsin place within a open frame support assembly. The vertically orientedgrinder unit or units grind solids into uniformly small particlesminimizing damage to pumps and other processing equipment. The screenunit, like the grinder unit, is of simple design, rugged constructionwith few moving parts thereby minimizing maintenance and repair cost aswell as down time. The horizontal rotating screen is self-cleaning usingthe accelerated diverted portion of the influent stream to wash thecaptured solids particles off the upstream face and accelerate the flowthereof and concentration into the inlet port of the grinder unit.Further, the close mesh of the screen keeps all unwanted particles thatcould cause downstream clogging problems.

As may be appreciated, simple modifications may be made to permit thescreen units 12 and the grinder units 14 to operate fully submersed inthe influent stream. The electric drive motors may be of the hermetictype with appropriate sealed electric cables, alternatively, hydraulicdrives may be employed for submersible application using hydraulicallydriven rotary motors for rotating the drive shafts of respective units.Depending upon the size and mass of the solids, some solids may actuallycontact the screen 30, however, the solids tend to follow the laminarflow caused by the screen moving towards the grinder unit rather thanimpacting on the screen. As may be appreciated, while a screen ofparticular construction is disclosed in detail, open mesh screens in theform of endless loops appropriately sized may replace the screen made upof sections and principally of molded plastic links, without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Further, tracking discs may be added todrive shaft 54 to prevent the screen from mis-tracking, and while baffleplates have been provided between the downstream of said grinder unit orunits and the upstream screen units at the end adjacent to the grinderunits to prevent damage to the screen from objects being kicked backfrom a reversing grinder unit during reverse operation and to eliminatedead spots where solids can collect, the particular bafflet plates areexemplary only of one type of baffling to facilitate the feed of solidsentrained within the influent stream into the upstream inlet port of thegrinder unit and different screens may be employed for utilizing one ormore vertically upright baffle plate to perform that function.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details in construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodiments of this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solid waste handling system for screening andgrinding solids entrained in an influent liquid stream flowing within aflow confining chute, said chute having a bottom wall and laterallyspaced vertical sidewalls defining a flow channel for said stream, saidsystem comprising:at least one diverter horizontal rotating screen unitfixedly mounted within said chute, at least partially immersed in saidinfluent liquid stream and extending transversely from one sidewalltowards the other sidewall at an angle to the flow direction of saidstream, said at least one screen unit comprising an elongated open frameassembly, an endless loop open mesh screen mounted for rotation on saidframe assembly such that one upstream face of the screen is vertical andmoves horizontally across the stream, means for rotating said screen onsaid frame to divert a portion of the stream flow in the direction ofscreen movement, to cause solids of the influent stream larger than themesh size of the screen to impact upon said one upstream face and to bemomentarily captured thereon so as to move horizontally in the directionof screen movement, and at least one grinder unit fixedly mounted withinsaid chute, within the flow stream and downstream of the endless loopscreen, at the end of the screen unit in the direction of movement ofsaid one upstream face, said at least one grinder unit comprising: agrinder unit housing having an upstream facing inlet port and adownstream facing outlet port, stacked interengaging shredding membersmounted within said grinder unit housing for rotation about their axesin the path of flow of said solids bearing influent through said housingfrom said inlet port to said outlet port, and means for rotating saidshredding members such that; the solids entrained in the divertedportion of the influent stream are driven to the end of the screenproximate to said at least one grinder unit, are automatically sweptaway from the screen by the diverted flow of influent passing over theend of the screen and are concentrated within the portion of the channelpartially defined by the end of the screen unit and the said at leastone grinder unit and finely ground prior to discharge through saidoutlet port of said at least one grinder unit as waste effluent, andwherein said open frame assembly is fixedly mounted between saidsidewalls of said chute, said open frame assembly including parallelupstream and downstream metal frame members fixedly mounted at least atone end to said chute and being spaced a distance on the order of thewidth of said screen unit and defining an elongated rectangular slottherebetween, said screen unit elongated open frame assembly mountedwithin said slot and being maintained in position in the path of saidsolids influent stream, and means including at least one short lengthangle bar fixedly mounted at one end to the other sidewall of saidchute, and partially defining a rectangular cavity sized to andconfigured to said grinder unit housing and receiving the upper end ofsaid grinder unit housing for maintaining the inlet port of said grinderunit positioned in the path of the diverted solids influent streampassing through said narrow channel portion, said laterally spaced metalframe members extend perpendicular to the direction of influent streamflow through said channel and are fixed at opposite ends to respectivesidewalls of said chute, and wherein said grinder unit is supported atits upper end by two of said short length angle bars fixedly mounted, atone end, to said other sidewall, proximate to the narrow flow channelportion at the end of the screen unit, a vertical plate spans betweenand is fixed to respective ends of said short length angle bars remotefrom said other sidewall and extends parallel to said other sidewall,and wherein the end of said screen unit overlaps the end of thedownstream grinder unit remote from each other chute sidewall, andwherein a vertical deflector wall has a downstream vertical edge fixedto the grinder unit along one side of the inlet port and extendsobliquely from said grinder unit to the downstream side of said screenunit and has an upstream vertical edge at a position proximate to thedownstream face of the endless loop screen so as to insure retention ofsolids captured on the screen within the portion of the influent passingvia the narrow channel portion to the inlet port of the grinder unit. 2.The solid waste handling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said openframe support assembly further includes mounting plates fixedly mountedto the interior surfaces of the laterally opposed sidewalls of the chuteand extending over a length of said sidewall occupied by said metalframe members with the ends of said metal frame members beingrespectively fixed thereto.
 3. A solid waste handling system forscreening and grinding solids entrained in an influent liquid streamflowing within a flow confining chute, said chute having a bottom walland laterally spaced vertical sidewalls defining a flow channel for saidstream, said system comprising:at least one solid diverter horizontalrotating screen unit fixedly mounted within said chute, at leastpartially immersed in said influent liquid stream and extendingtransversely from one sidewall towards the other sidewall at an angle tothe flow direction of said stream, said at least one screen unitcomprising an elongated open frame assembly, an endless loop open meshscreen mounted for rotation on said frame assembly such that oneupstream face of the screen in vertical and moves horizontally acrossthe stream, means for rotating said screen on said frame to divert aportion of the stream flow in the direction of screen movement, to causesolids of the influent stream larger than the mesh sized of the screento impact upon said one upstream face and to be momentarily capturedthereon so as to move horizontally in the directions of screen movementand at least one grinder unit fixedly mounted within said chute, withinthe flow stream and downstream of the endless loop screen, at the end ofthe screen unit in the direction of movement of said one upstream face,said at least one grinder unit comprising: a grinder unit housing havingan upstream facing inlet port and a downstream facing outlet port,stacked interengaging shredding members mounted within said grinder unithousing for rotation about their axes in the path of flow of said solidsbearing influent through said housing from said inlet port to saidoutlet port, and means for rotating said shredding members such that;the solids entrained in the diverted portion of the influent stream aredriven to the end of the screen proximate to said at least one grinderunit, are automatically swept away from the screen by the diverted flowof influent passing over the end of the screen and are concentratedwithin the portion of the channel partially defined by the end of thescreen unit and said at least one grinder unit and finely ground priorto discharge through said outlet port of said at least one grinder unitas waste effluent, wherein said screen unit open frame assemblycomprises left and right, vertically spaced, upper and lower endhousings, vertically oriented drive and driven shafts mounted forrotation about their axes at opposite ends within respective upper andlower end housings, a plurality of sprockets fixedly mounted to saidshafts for rotation about their axes at axially spaced positions alongsaid shafts, said drive shaft and said sprockets mounted theretodefining a drive shaft sprocket assembly and said driven shaft and thesprockets mounted thereto defining a driven shaft sprocket assembly,said sprockets including radially projecting teeth, and wherein saidendless loop open mesh screen comprises linked screen sections, eachscreen section being formed of a plurality of horizontal, verticallyspaced links having enlarged headed ends, horizontally spaced verticalriser strips integral with said links to define with the links,rectangular screen mesh openings, and wherein the headed ends of thehorizontal links of adjacent screen sections have axial holes and saidheaded ends are interposed with each other with the holes thereofaligned and rods projecting through said aligned holes and pivotablycoupling said links together at said headed ends such that saidpivotably coupled screen sections wrap about said drive shaft and drivenshaft sprocket assemblies at respective ends of said screen units withthe headed ends of said links engaging said sprocket teeth.
 4. The solidwaste handling system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sprocket teethhave concave grooves within one side of the teeth facing in the samecircumferential direction, and wherein the sprockets fixed to the driveshaft have the teeth thereof facing oppositely to those of the sprocketsfixed to the driven shaft, whereby one of said shafts functions as adrive shaft and the other as an idler.
 5. The solid waste handlingsystem as claimed in claim 3, herein the bottom of said screen unitlower end housing and the top of said screen unit upper end housing areclosed off by respective bottom and top covers, said top cover of saidupper end housing bearing said drive shaft is centrally apertured, saiddrive shaft includes a shaft extension portion projecting through saidtop cover aperture, and wherein said upper end housing rotatablysupporting said drive shaft has, stacked thereon and above the topcover, a speed reducer and a drive motor in that order, and wherein apair of shaft couplers are interposed, respectively between the motorand the speed reducer and the speed reducer and said screen unit driveshaft for completing a speed reduction drive coupling between an outputshaft of the motor, and said screen unit drive shaft.
 6. The solid wastehandling system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said screen unit openframe assembly includes an upper tensioner operatively coupled betweenthe upper end housings for said drive shaft and driven shaft sprocketassemblies and a lower tensioner operatively coupling the lower endhousings for said drive shaft and driven shaft sprocket assemblies toeffect selective adjustment of the tension of the endless loop screenrotatably mounted on said drive shaft and driven shaft sprocketassemblies.
 7. The solid waste handling system as claimed in claim 6,further comprising a secondary tensioner interposed between the upperand lower tensioners and the driven shaft sprocket assembly, saidsecondary tensioner including secondary tensioner adjusting means injuxtaposition to the upper end housing of said driven shaft sprocketassembly for effecting adjustment of the secondary screen tension afterthe screen unit is mounted within said chute.
 8. The solid wastehandling system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said screen unit openframe assembly comprises a vertical frame member fixedly interposedbetween the upper and lower end housings of said drive shaft sprocketassembly and extending parallel to said drive shaft, each of said upperand lower tensioners comprises threaded rods fixedly mountedrespectively to upper and lower end housings of drive shaft sprocketassembly and projecting at right angles to the drive shaft towards, andbeing aligned with the upper and lower end housings of said driven shaftsprocket assembly, an internally threaded sleeve threadably coupled tothe end of each of said threaded rods remote from said drive shaftsprocket assembly end housings and movable axially towards and away fromsaid drive shaft sprocket assembly upper and lower end housings, alocknut threadably mounted to each threaded rod for locking said sleeveat an axially adjusted position, and wherein each of said sleevesfurther comprises a connecting rod mounted coaxially to said sleeve forrelative rotation thereto and operatively coupled at an end remote fromthe sleeve to the respective upper and lower end housings of said drivenshaft sprocket assembly such that upon rotation of the sleeves of theupper and lower tensioners, the upper end housings and the lower endhousings are moved towards and away from each other to effect primarytensioning to the screen carried by the sprockets of the screen unitdrive and driven shaft sprocket assemblies.
 9. The solid waste handlingsystem as claimed in claim 8, wherein said secondary tensioner comprisesa channel member, fixedly mounted to the upper and lower end housings ofsaid driven shaft sprocket assembly and fixedly mounting triangularshaped wedges at opposite ends thereof facing the connecting rods of theupper and lower tensioners, an adjusting rod extending through saidupper and lower wedges, triangular shaped sliding blocks mounted onopposite ends of said secondary tensioner rod, said sliding blockshaving oblique faces in contact with oppositely oblique faces ofrespective wedges and in operative contact with respective ends of saidconnecting rods and means for causing said sliding blocks to movetowards and away from each other on said secondary tensioner adjustingrod and to thereby shift the upper and lower end housings of said drivenshaft sprocket assembly towards and away from the connecting rods ofsaid upper and lower tensioners to effect secondary tensioning of thescreen wrapped about the sprockets of said drive and driven shaftsprocket assemblies.
 10. The solid waste handling system as claimed inclaim 9, wherein studs are fixedly mounted to opposite sides of saidwedges and project past opposite sides of said sliding blocks throughapertured plates fixedly mounted, respectively to the ends of theconnecting rods remote from the rotatable sleeves of said upper andlower tensioners and abutting said sliding blocks so as to maintain thesliding blocks in oblique face abutment with said respective upper andlower wedges, and wherein said secondary tensioner adjustment rodincludes a cross bar fixed to the lower end thereof and underlying thebottom of the lower sliding block and said secondary tensioner adjustingrod extends through aligned slots within said wedges and said slidingblocks, and has a threaded upper end projecting above an upper face ofsaid upper sliding block, and an adjustment nut threaded to the upperthreaded end of said secondary tensioner rod and bearing on said slidingblock such that tightening down on said adjustment nut causes saidsliding blocks to move towards each other on respective wedges, and todrive said driven shaft sprocket assembly away from said drive shaftsprocket assembly to permit tension adjustment within said endless loopscreen after installment of the screen unit within said chute.
 11. Asolids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit for a solid wastehandling system for screening and grinding solids entrained in aninfluent liquid stream flowing within a flow confining chute, said chutehaving a bottom wall and laterally spaced vertical sidewalls defining aflow channel for said stream with said system having a solids diverterhorizontal rotating screen unit fixedly mounted within the chute,extending transversely from one sidewall towards the other sidewall atan angle to the flow direction of the stream and a grinder unit fixedlymounted within the flow stream and downstream from the endless loopscreen at the end of the screen unit and offset therefrom in thedirection of flow of an influent liquid stream within the chute so as togrind solids entrained within said influent liquid stream, said screenunit comprising an elongated open frame assembly, and an endless loopopen mesh screen mounted for rotation on said frame assembly such thatone face of the screen may be positioned vertically for movementhorizontally across the stream and facing upstream thereof, and meansfor rotating the screen on the frame for diverting a portion of thestream flow in the direction of screen movement to cause solids of theinfluent stream larger than the mesh size of the screen to be entrainedin influent diverted along said one upstream face and to be carriedthereby in the direction of screen movement such that the solids aredriven to the end of the screen proximate to the grinder unit, areautomatically swept away from the screen by the diverted flow ofinfluent passing over the end of the screen and are concentrated withinthe portion of the channel partially defined by the end of the screenunit and the downstream offset grinder unit and finely ground prior todischarge from the grinder unit as waste effluent, wherein the screenunit open frame assembly comprises left and right, vertically spacedupper and lower end housings, vertically oriented drive and drivenshafts mounted for rotation about their axes at opposite ends withinrespective upper and lower end housings, a plurality of sprocketsfixedly mounted to said shafts for rotation about their axes at axiallyspaced positions along said shafts, said sprockets including radiallyprojecting teeth, said drive shaft and said sprockets mounted theretodefining a drive shaft sprocket assembly and said driven shaft and saidsprockets mounted thereto defining a driven shaft sprocket assembly, andwherein said endless loop open mesh screen comprises linked screensections, each screen section being formed of a plurality of horizontal,vertically spaced links having enlarged headed ends, holes within theheaded ends, horizontally spaced vertical riser strips integral withsaid links to define with the links, rectangular screen mesh opening,and wherein the headed ends of the horizontal links of adjacent screensections are interposed with each other with the holes thereof alignedand rods projecting to the aligned holes and pivotably coupling saidlinks together at said headed ends such that said pivotably coupledscreen sections wrap about said drive shaft and driven shaft sprocketassemblies at respective ends of the screen unit with the headed ends ofthe links engaging said sprocket teeth.
 12. The solids diverterhorizontal rotating screen unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein saidsprocket teeth have concave grooves within one side of the teeth facingin the same circumferential direction, and wherein the sprockets fixedto the drive shaft have teeth facing oppositely to those fixed to thedriven shaft, whereby one of the shafts functions as a drive shaft andthe other as an idler.
 13. The solids diverter horizontal rotatingscreen unit as claimed in claimed 11, wherein the bottom of the screenunit lower end housings and the top of said screen unit upper endhousings are closed off by respective bottom and top covers, said topcover of said upper end housing bearing said drive shaft is centrallyapertured, said drive shaft includes a shaft extension portionprojecting through said top cover aperture, and wherein said upper endhousing rotatably supporting said drive shaft has, stacked thereon andabove the top cover, a speed reducer and a drive motor in that order,and wherein a pair of shaft couplers are interposed, respectivelybetween the motor and the speed reducer and the speed reducer and thescreen unit drive shaft for completing a speed reduction drive couplingbetween and output shaft of the motor and said screen unit drive shaft.14. The solids diverter horizontal rotating screen unit as claimed inclaim 11, wherein said screen unit open frame assembly includes an uppertensioner operatively coupled between the upper end housings for saiddrive shaft and driven shaft sprocket assemblies and a lower tensioneroperatively coupling the lower end housings for said drive shaft anddriven shaft sprocket assemblies to effect selective adjustment of thetension of the endless loop screen rotatably mounted on said drive anddriven shaft sprocket assemblies.
 15. The solids diverter horizontalrotating screen unit as claimed in claim 14, further comprising asecondary tensioner interposed between the upper and lower tensionersand the driven shaft sprocket assembly, said secondary tensionerincluding secondary tensioner adjusting means in juxtaposition to theupper end housing of said driven shaft sprocket assembly for effectingadjustment of the secondary screen tension after the screen unit ismounted within said chute.
 16. The solids diverter horizontal rotatingscreen unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said screen unit open frameassembly comprises a vertical frame member fixedly interposed betweensaid upper and lower end housings of said drive shaft sprocket assemblyand extending parallel to the drive shaft, each of said upper and lowertensioners comprises threaded rods fixedly mounted, respectively to saidupper and lower end housings of said drive shaft sprocket assembly andprojecting at right angles to the drive shaft, and being aligned withthe upper and lower end housings of said driven shaft sprocket assembly,an internally threaded sleeve threadably coupled to the end of saidthreaded rod remote from said drive shaft sprocket assembly end housingsand movable axially towards and away from said driven shaft sprocketassembly upper and lower end housings, a locknut threadably mounted toeach threaded rod for locking said sleeve at an axially adjustedposition, and wherein each of said sleeves further comprises aconnecting rod coaxially coupled at one end to the sleeve for relativerotation thereto and operatively coupled at an end remote from thesleeve to the respective upper and lower end housings of said drivenshaft sprocket assembly such that upon rotation of the sleeves of theupper and lower tensioners, the upper and lower end housings are movedaxially towards and away from each other to effect primary tensioning tothe screen carried by the sprockets of the screen unit drive and drivenshaft sprocket assemblies.
 17. The solids diverter horizontal rotatingscreen unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said secondary tensionercomprises a channel member fixedly mounted to the upper and lower endhousings of said driven shaft sprocket assembly and fixedly mountedtriangular shaped wedges at opposite ends thereof, said wedges facing,respectively, the connecting rods of the upper and lower tensioners, asecondary tensioner adjusting rod, triangular shaped sliding blocksmounted on opposite ends of said secondary tensioner adjusting rod, saidadjusting rod having ends extending through said upper and lower wedges,said sliding blocks having oblique faces in contact with oppositelyoblique faces of respective wedges and being in operative contact withrespective ends of said connecting rods and means for causing saidsliding blocks to move towards and away from each other on saidsecondary tension adjusting rod to thereby shift the upper and lower endhousings of said driven shaft sprocket assembly towards and away fromthe connecting rods of said upper and lower tensioners to effectsecondary tensioning of the screen wrapped about the sprockets of thedrive and driven shaft sprocket assemblies.
 18. The solids diverterhorizontal rotating screen unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein studsare fixedly mounted to opposite sides of said wedges and project pastopposite sides of the sliding blocks, through apertured plates fixedlymounted, respectively to the ends of the connecting rods remote from therotatable sleeves of said upper and lower tensioners and abutting saidsliding blocks so as to maintain the sliding blocks in oblique faceabutment with said respective upper and lower wedges, and wherein saidsecondary tensioner adjustment rod includes a cross bar fixed to thelower end thereof and underlying the bottom of the lower sliding blockand said secondary tensioner adjusting rod extends through aligned slotswithin said wedges and said sliding blocks and has a threaded upper endprojecting above an upper face of said upper sliding block and anadjustment nut threaded to the upper threaded end of the secondarytensioner rod and bearing on said sliding block such that tighteningdown on the adjustment nut causes the sliding blocks to move towardseach other on the oblique faces of said wedges and to drive said drivenshaft sprocket assembly away from said drive shaft sprocket assembly topermit tension adjustment within said endless loop screen afterinstallation of said screen unit within said chute.
 19. A solid wastehandling system for screening and grinding solids entrained in aninfluent liquid stream flowing within a flow confining chute, said chutehaving a bottom wall and laterally spaced vertical sidewalls defining aflow channel for said stream, said system comprising:at least one solidsdiverter horizontal rotating screen unit fixedly mounted within saidchute, at least partially immersed in said influent liquid stream andextending transversely from one sidewall towards the other sidewall atan angle to the flow direction of said stream, said at least one screenunit comprising an elongated open frame assembly, an endless loop openmesh screen mounted for rotation on said frame assembly such that oneupstream face of the screen is vertical and moves horizontally acrossthe stream, means for rotating said screen on said frame to divert aportion of the stream flow in the direction of screen movement, to causesolids of the influent stream larger than the mesh size of the screen toimpact upon said one upstream face and to be momentarily capturedthereon so as to move horizontally in the direction of screen movementand at least one grinder unit fixedly mounted within said chute, withinthe flow stream and downstream of the endless loop screen, at the end ofthe screen unit in the direction of movement of said one upstream face,said at least one grinder unit comprising: a grinder unit housing havingan upstream facing inlet port and a downstream facing outlet port,stacked interengaging shredding members mounted within said grinder unithousing for rotation about their axes in the path of flow of said solidsbearing influent through said housing from said inlet port to saidoutlet port, and means for rotating said shredding members such that;the solids entrained in the diverged portion of the influent stream aredriven to the end of the screen proximate to said at least one grinderunit, are automatically swept away from the screen by the diverted flowof influent passing over the end of the screen and are concentratedwithin the portion of the channel partially defined by the end of thescreen unit and said at least one grinder unit and finely ground priorto discharge through said outlet port of said at least one grinder unitas waste effluent, wherein said screen unit open frame assemblycomprises left and right, vertically spaced, upper and lower endhousings, vertically oriented drive and driven shafts mounted forrotation about their axes at opposite ends within respective upper andlower end housings, a plurality of sprockets fixedly mounted to saiddrive shaft for rotation about their axes at axially spaced positionsalong said drive shaft, idler means carried by said driven shaft, saiddrive shaft and sprockets mounted thereto defining a drive shaftassembly, said driven shaft and said idler means mounted theretodefining a driven shaft idler assembly, and wherein said endless loopopen mesh screen is looped about respective drive shaft and driven shaftassembly.
 20. The solid waste handling system as claimed in claim 19,wherein said screen unit open frame assembly includes an upper tensioneroperatively coupled between the upper end housings for said drive shaftand driven shaft assemblies and a lower tensioner operatively couplingthe lower end housings for said drive shaft and driven shaft assembliesto effect selective adjustment of the tension of the endless loop screenrotatably mounted on said drive shaft and driven shaft assemblies. 21.The solid waste handling system as claimed in claim 19, wherein saidscreen unit open frame assembly comprises a vertical frame memberfixedly interposed between the upper and lower end housings of the driveshaft sprocket assembly and extending parallel to the drive shaft,wherein each of the upper and lower tensioners comprises threaded rodsfixedly mounted, respectively to said upper and lower end housings ofthe drive shaft sprocket assembly and projecting at right angles to thedrive shaft towards and being aligned with the upper and lower endhousings of said driven shaft sprocket assembly, an internally threadedsleeve threadedly coupled to the end of each of said threaded rodsremote from said drive shaft assembly end housings and movable axiallytowards and away from said drive shaft assembly upper and lower endhousings, a locknut threadably mounted to each threaded rod for lockingsaid sleeve at an axially adjusted position, and wherein each of thesleeves further comprises a connecting rod mounted coaxially to saidsleeve for relative rotation thereto and operatively coupled at an endremote from the sleeve to the respective upper and lower end housings ofsaid driven shaft assembly such that upon rotation of the sleeves of theupper and lower tensioners, the upper and lower end housings are movedand the lower end housings are moved towards and away from each other toeffect tensioning of the screen carried by the screen unit drive shaftand driven shaft assemblies.
 22. The solid waste handling system asclaimed in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of vertically spacedsupport ways fixedly mounted between said drive shaft and said drivenshaft on the downstream side of the upstream length of screen forsupporting the front half of the endless loop screen during traverseacross the influent stream.